Cai Yanqing's ability to serve as the prefect of Hezhong Prefecture is unquestionable, but he has always been very low-key. Although he already knew about the dealings of Zhang Fei and Yuan Jiang, he did not know what their ultimate goal was.
Therefore, he would rather be a bystander and do his own part. After all, the current direction of development of things is in a positive direction, and he is also happy to enjoy the results.
At the same time that Cai Yanqing rushed to the Transportation Bureau to inform Yuan Jiang of the news, Cao Yi also hurried to the government office.
"what happened?"
When Wei Yingfang saw Cao Yi, he was also very puzzled and asked, "Why did they suddenly make up their minds to adopt our suggestions?"
Cao Yi said: "This is because the gentry of each county stood up, which prompted the big landowners to choose to adopt our suggestions."
Wei Yingfang frowned slightly at first, then suddenly laughed: "What a fool! What a fool! We only think about our own interests, but we don't think that when the people go to the Royal Police to pay taxes, it will cause the greatest harm to the gentry."
"exactly."
Cao Yi nodded: "Many gentry were furious about the police's actions without consulting them. At the same time, the previous trial made the villagers more willing to go to the imperial court or even the royal police when they encountered disputes, which made the gentry feel greatly threatened.
Now, the gentry, in the name of combating usury, have stated that anyone lending money in their village must not exceed 1.5%, otherwise they will be punished according to the clan law.
Wei Yingfang smiled and said, "This is a good idea. In this way, the gentry will become the most trusted person by the villagers."
Cao Yi nodded: "Yes, compared with the imperial court and government, the villagers are more accustomed to following those respected gentry. The most important thing is that they established this clan law, which can not only weaken the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs, but also severely damage the Qingmiao Law."
... ...
Procuratorate.
"Before our public security, procuratorial and judicial organs came, we had never seen them do this. This is clearly Xiang Zhuang dancing with a sword, aiming at Pei Gong."
Wang Shen said with a little excitement.
Chen Qi coughed and said, "That's not the case. Those gentry have always been against the Qingmiao Law. It's understandable that they did this."
Wang Shen said: "But they did this not to deal with the Qingmiao Law, but to deal with our public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. They wrote the interest into the clan law, and the intention is very obvious. In the future, will the clan law be the main thing or the law be the main thing?"
Chen Qi frowned. This was indeed not good for the public security, procuratorial and judicial organs. He looked at Su Zhe who was silent and pondering beside him and said, "Chief Prosecutor Su, how should we deal with this?"
Su Che was looking up information about military pay. He was startled for a moment, glanced at the two men, and asked, "Did they break the law?"
Wang Shen and Chen Qi looked at each other and shook their heads.
When the clan law does not conflict with the law, it is of course allowed.
The interest rate of 1.5% is far lower than what the court stipulated.
Even if the court was unwilling, it would be difficult for it to have the audacity to say that the interest rate could not be set so low as it would disrupt market rules.
The key point is that there is no such saying now.
"Then we have no control over it."
Su Che shook his head and smiled, "I don't know if you have noticed that Judge Zhang has always emphasized that the judiciary should not interfere with the administration. In my understanding, perhaps the more we want to control, the more we will lose. If we rely on the size of the official position and the power, why should we ask the prefect and the transport envoy to testify in court?"
Wang Shen asked again: "Then... the Qingmiao method?"
Su Che pondered for a moment, "In my opinion, this is far better than the Qingmiao Law. Let's not talk about the other things for now. If the court makes money with the Qingmiao Law, would it still be willing to put money and grain in the Changping Warehouse and lend them to the people without interest
Anyway, I think that these two points of interest cannot solve the people's problems. What the people really need is a permanent warehouse that can provide them with assistance when they encounter disasters."
He still advocated the Changping Warehouse more, believing that the court should provide interest-free loans to those people in need, so as to stop land annexation and maintain social stability.
As for the local gentry taking over the matter, he had no objection.
... ... .
Royal Court.
"Will the villagers believe the lies of the squires?"
Zhang Fei frowned and looked at Cai Jing, then asked, "Is there any coercion involved?"
Cai Jing said: "It is said that the gentry who stood up this time are not comparable to those heads of households and village heads. They are all retired officials from the court and are highly respected in the village."
Zhang Fei asked: "Is he truly virtuous or fake?"
Cai Jing nodded and said, "Most of them are true. Many officials who retire and return to their hometowns will benefit the village and provide some help to the villagers. Moreover, 1.5% interest is not uncommon in the village. Some of these gentry lend money at 1.5% or even lower, because they have generous treatment and are unlikely to be short of money."
Zhang Fei sneered, "But before the rampant loan sharking, they never stood up to say a word."
Cai Jing hesitated for a moment and said, "The village's affairs are not that simple. They must have helped some people, but after all, this is not their job. And those big landlords must have people behind them, and they are also powerful people. No one can achieve the response of one person. But this time, due to many reasons, they are united."
Zhang Fei sneered: "So this is why they stood up to oppose the Qingmiao Law?"
Cai Jing said: "The Qingmiao Law is not highly regarded by many gentry, but they are eager to stand up this time, not because of the Qingmiao Law, but because of our public security and procuratorate. They believe that the public security and procuratorate have destroyed rural management and patriarchal system, and will make the village disunited."
At this point, he paused for a moment, "This also involves a power struggle. These retired officials are not completely ignoring government affairs. Many of them still intervene in government affairs by virtue of their influence in the local area, and at the same time maintain contact with court officials. Many prefectural governors and county magistrates who come to the local area to take office have good relations with them."
"After all, it's about interests and power, not kindness." Zhang Fei laughed.
Cai Jing nodded: "The students think so too."
Zhang Fei asked again: "How much effect do you think their clan system can have?"
After all, he was an outsider and had never been to the village. He was actually not clear about the deeper power structure in the township.
But Cai Jing knew very well that they were all from the countryside, and said: "I estimate that most people will still choose to trust those gentry. In comparison, the royal police are outsiders, while the villagers are our own people, and they have lived together for generations."
This generation after generation made Zhang Fei very depressed, and he sighed: "I really underestimated them and thought they could achieve success overnight."
In fact, the Qingmiao Law was only secondary. The key was the plan to use the Royal Police to break through the rural fortress.
If the gentry succeeded, it would be equivalent to building a more solid fortress in the village.
His plan was bound to be shelved.
Cai Jing said: "Although they are actually targeting us, on the surface they are still targeting the Qingmiao Law. Teacher, why don't you tell this news to Master Wang and let Master Wang use government orders to stop them."
Zhang Fei said: "If government orders can solve everything, then what do we need the public security, procuratorate and courts for?"
Cai Jing added: "If that is what you intend, you can then use the decree to block the government's decree. The government's decree is to suppress the clan system, while your decree is to defend the clan system. At that time, our decree will be able to further control the clan system."
Zhang Fei's eyes lit up, and he immediately said, "But our public security, procuratorial and judicial organs are relatively passive, and someone has to initiate the lawsuit."
Cai Jing said simply and clearly: "I think many people are happy to see the dispute between the public security, procuratorate and courts and the Qingmiao Law."
Zhang Fei glanced at him and thought, he is indeed worthy of being called the treacherous minister Cai, he really has a talent in this area.
However, he still seemed a little hesitant. In fact, he had used this trick before, but what he considered was different from Cai Jing's.
Just then, Shangguan Jun's voice sounded outside the door, "Teacher, are you in there?"
"come in."
With a creak, Shangguan Jun pushed the door open and walked in, saying in a serious tone, "Teacher, a farmer just came here to voluntarily withdraw his lawsuit."
"so fast!"
Zhang Fei couldn't help but sigh.
Shangguan Jun couldn't help but glance at Cai Jing.
Cai Jing nodded slightly, hinting at the teacher's reason.
Shangguan Jun then said, "I heard that the gentry in their village had mediated the dispute between this person and the landlord."
Zhang Fei asked: "Then do you know how they mediated?"
Shangguan Jun said: "It is said that all remaining interest was waived, and using the teacher's method, his debt was spread over two years."
Zhang Fei was surprised and asked, "Really? Are those landlords so generous?"
Shangguan Jun said: "For these big landowners, they mainly hope to annex the land, not to care about the interest. Even if they don't reconcile, our imperial court will not award the land to him. In addition, this self-cultivating farmer has already paid a lot of interest. Even if the remaining interest is waived, the big landowner will not lose anything."
Cai Jing said: "This is actually the teacher's trick. Before, they pursued interests, but now they are fighting for power. The longer the debt period, the longer the people will rely on them. Not only can they prevent our public security, procuratorate and courts from entering the countryside, but they can also delay the Qingmiao Law to death."
Zhang Fei asked: "Is this my trick? How come I don't know it?"
Cai Jing reacted suddenly and said hurriedly: "Sorry, teacher, I was wrong."
"As a judicial officer, you still have to be careful when speaking and provide evidence."
Zhang Fei said to Shangguan Jun again: "Shangguan, go tell them that our imperial court strongly encourages them to reconcile privately, and highly approves of everything the gentry has done for the villagers. We hope that they will not forget their original intentions and help the villagers solve their difficulties in all aspects. If there is a need, our imperial court is also willing to provide them with help."
Shangguan Jun pursed his lips and said, "Teacher, they are all retired officials, so they may not appreciate our high praise."
Zhang Fei sighed: "It's just a polite remark, do you need to take it so seriously?"
"yes."
Shangguan Jun said: "I will give the order right away."